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Conor Bradley basked through the passionate backing of the home crowd's love, while Trent Alexander-Arnold – the local boy who moved on from Anfield – received a stark and negative reaction of his fall from grace.

Conor Bradley had been identified as Alexander-Arnold's heir apparent ever since his departure was confirmed to exit Anfield towards the Spanish giants, so once the fates paired the two European superpowers together in the Champions League, all was ready.

A dramatic comparison emerged it was as the 22-year-old Northern Ireland right-back emerged as the standout figure in a Liverpool performance that harked back from their dominant seasons while Real Madrid were overwhelmed.

Alexander-Arnold, who started on the bench, all the while was left a clear message about the crowd that used to celebrate his local hero status now regard him.

The occasion proved of unrelenting ill-feeling targeted at Alexander-Arnold, starting with his public artwork defaced displaying critical phrases before the game and the stadium's fury caused by behavior which the faithful view as his betrayal.

Bradley actually fuelled the rage and criticism aimed in Alexander-Arnold's direction with a magnificent display which minimized the threat of Brazilian star to an observer, only able to offer theatrics – poor theatrics at that – against the defender's superior strength.

All his interventions was cheered to the echo, each distribution met with Anfield's approval, vocals celebrating him passionately, not only for his performance plus an audible message towards Trent announcing a fresh face in town, that he was now firmly from a previous era.

Naturally, the defender, earned plaudits of head coach Arne Slot.

Conor Bradley was outstanding, commented Slot. To be up against Vinicius in multiple direct confrontations proves challenging for most, yet he excelled.

Had the graffiti displayed on Alexander-Arnold's mural failed to warn him regarding the coming hostility, he received clear confirmation when he trotted on alongside the Spanish squad's backups before kick-off, boos echoing through the stadium, the critical response repeated when his name was read out.

At the moment when he would miss the full-scale vitriol, the Spanish side's coach sent him in as a late replacement as they tried to level Liverpool's lead, rightfully earned by Mac Allister's headed goal just after the hour.

The response to Alexander-Arnold's arrival was savage, including derisive boos after an errant pass that drifted aimlessly beyond the boundary.

Trent's disappointing appearance occurred alongside the crowd referencing of those who had stayed loyal through potential moves to leave Anfield, namely former captain Steven Gerrard, present in the crowd.

The evening belonged to Liverpool, Bradley's night – the sort of night Anfield revels in as the presence of their former star acted as an even more potent catalyst to turn up the volume.

The team, earlier inconsistent with six defeats in seven games until their recent victory last weekend, responded with a performance that was easily their best in recent months, a timely reminder of the quality that saw them win the championship.

Slot appreciated the response to successful results, stating: Winning matches proves more enjoyable rather than losing matches. Defeats consume all of your time since you desperately need to change it, but you also try to be the same manager and person that you are when you are winning.

Solely the performance from the exceptional goalkeeper the Belgian who almost denied the Reds the justified outcome, through an outstanding personal display that revived memories when he frustrated them during their defeat under Klopp the European showpiece in Paris.

Courtois produced several outstanding stops, preventing goals from the midfielder and an amazing instinctive block against Van Dijk's aerial effort, before even he was powerless from Mac Allister's headed goal from the Hungarian's free-kick.

The slim winning difference barely represents total command from start to finish, this significant victory moving them to sixth position in the tournament ranking, a position that should secure direct qualification eliminating the necessity for additional matches if sustained.

Szoboszlai with Mac Allister controlled the engine room, as Wirtz delivered some of the subtle touches that made his name at Bayer Leverkusen. The forward remained dangerous throughout the match.

The Reds, contrasting with previous earlier shows, completely secure defensively as the French star was neutralized, delivering a dreadful, error-strewn display. Vinicius had been beaten by Bradley long before the end.

While proving a difficult evening for the defender, the situation proved similarly challenging for the English midfielder, presented with the Anfield platform to demonstrate again of his class prior to the Three Lions boss announces his team for the upcoming internationals after being left out recently.

Bellingham created a single threat during the opening period when he forced Giorgi Mamardashvili to use his feet, but offered little else {as Real failed to establish|